JJ McCarthy injury row takes new turn; Vikings accused of benching star QB despite positive update

JJ McCarthy injury update: The Vikings are facing some serious accusations after a video from the Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers went viral

Published on: Oct 24, 2025, 08:23:32 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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JJ McCarthy injury update: The Minnesota Vikings are facing some serious accusations from their fanbase after a video from the Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers went viral on Thursday. The 22-year-old rookie was listed as an emergency third quarterback for a couple of weeks. He sustained an ankle injury in Week 2.

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9), left, and Carson Wentz (11) warm up before Chargers clash (AP)

During the second quarter of the Chargers vs Vikings game, Justin Jefferson leapt over the sideline to collect a pass. The star wide receiver went out of control and nearly collided with McCarthy, who was visibly shocked. The 22-year-old jumped back to avoid a fall. However, the video has stirred some controversy on social media.

Several fans and reporters pointed out that the Vikings' regular starter did not look injured and was likely benched. The team has not reacted to these speculations. No specific details are available at the time of writing this story.

"The Vikings didn't bench JJ McCarthy he has an ankle injury. Explain this," sportswriter Dov Kleiman, who has over 360k followers, posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. He also attached the viral video.

“JJ McCarthy, Who Missed His Fifth Straight Game Tonight With An Ankle Injury That Is DEFINITELY Real, Looked Great Here Jumping Out Of Justin Jefferson's Way Before Celebrating The Vikings' First Down,” another person tweeted.

“I don't notice any limping,” a third person commented.

JJ McCarthy injury update

Ahead of the Week 8 game, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said that McCarthy's ankle was not quite strong enough.

“J.J., the medical staff, and myself were all kind of encouraged by where he’s at and the progress he’s making, but he’s just not there,” O"Connell said. “If this was a Sunday game, maybe it would be a little bit different story and we could push it throughout the week to see where he’s at.”

McCarthy could return to the field on November 2, when the Vikings take on the Detroit Lions.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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